Dictionary

anhedonia en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌan.hɪˈdəʊ.nɪə/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /ˌæn.hiˈdoʊ.ni.ə/ (US)

Etymology

From French anhédonie (coined by Ribot, 1896), from Ancient Greek ἀν- (an-) + ἡδονή (hēdonḗ, “pleasure”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The inability to feel pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable, such as exercise, hobbies, music, sexual activities or social interactions.
   • Anhedonia is the reduced ability to experience pleasure from activities that were previously found to be enjoyable. Anhedonia can induce diminished motivation to engage in a potentially pleasurable activity (anticipatory anhedonia) and loss of the enjoyment experienced from the action itself (consummatory anhedonia). 2020, Erin Trifilio, John B. Williamson, Kenneth M. Heilman, “Chapter 9: Changes in Emotions and Mood with Aging”, in Kenneth M. Heilman, Stephen E. Nadeau, editors, Cognitive Changes of the Aging Brain, Cambridge University Press, page 133:
   • Rather, Meehl suggests that anhedonia is a manifestation of the mixed signals to which the preschizophrenic individual is subjected because of the neurointegrative deficit. 2012, R. R. J. Lewine, “Anhedonia and the Amotivational State of Schizophrenia”, in Andreas Marneros, Nancy C. Andreasen, Ming T. Tsuang, editors, Negative Versus Positive Schizophrenia, Springer, page 82:
   • Secondly, the distinction between consummatory and anticipatory anhedonia [21] is not taken into account although these two anhedonias could play different role in the risk of suicide. 2014, Gwenolé Loas, 11: Anhedonia and Risk of Suicide: An Overview, Michael S. Ritsner (editor), Anhedonia: A Comprehensive Handbook, Volume II, Springer, page 251
   • Prolonged seasickness will in most persons produce a temporary condition of anhedonia. Every good, terrestrial or celestial, is imagined only to be turned from with disgust. 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 146:

Forms

Deriveds

anhedonic · anticipatory anhedonia · consummatory anhedonia · anhedonism

Translations (14)

cs anhedonie (inability to feel pleasure) · ru ангедония (inability to feel pleasure) · ca anhedonisme (inability to feel pleasure) · nl anhedonie (inability to feel pleasure) · fr anhédonie (inability to feel pleasure) · pt anedonia (inability to feel pleasure) · es anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) · pl anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) · el ανηδονία (inability to feel pleasure) · uk ангедо́нія (inability to feel pleasure) · sv anhedoni (inability to feel pleasure) · tr anhedoni (inability to feel pleasure) · it anedonia (inability to feel pleasure) · is vansæld (inability to feel pleasure)